DENSITY TESTING and INSPECTION MANUAL 2003 EDITION Revised December 2020
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DENSITY TESTING AND INSPECTION MANUAL 2003 EDITION Revised December 2020 CONSTRUCTION FIELD SERVICES DIVISION FOREWORD This manual provides guidance to administrative, engineering, and technical staff. Engineering practice requires that professionals use a combination of technical skills and judgment in decision making. Engineering judgment is necessary to allow decisions to account for unique site-specific conditions and considerations to provide high quality products, within budget, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. This manual provides the general operational guidelines; however, it is understood that adaptation, adjustments, and deviations are sometimes necessary. Innovation is a key foundational element to advance the state of engineering practice and develop more effective and efficient engineering solutions and materials. As such, it is essential that our engineering manuals provide a vehicle to promote, pilot, or implement technologies or practices that provide efficiencies and quality products, while maintaining the safety, health, and welfare of the public. It is expected when making significant or impactful deviations from the technical information from these guidance materials, that reasonable consultations with experts, technical committees, and/or policy setting bodies occur prior to actions within the timeframes allowed. It is also expected that these consultations will eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise. MDOT Leadership is committed to a culture of innovation to optimize engineering solutions. The National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics for Engineering is founded on six fundamental canons. Those canons are provided below. Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: 1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. 2. Perform Services only in areas of their competence. 3. Issue public statement only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 5. Avoid deceptive acts. 6. Conduct themselves honorably, reasonably, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession. This manual has been prepared to document procedures used by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to assure quality in density testing and inspection in the field. It reflects current Michigan Department of Transportation practice, as based on past experience and on recognized national standards in testing procedures. This manual is written to serve as a procedures manual and training aid for technicians performing density testing on MDOT projects. Technician qualification requirements are documented in accordance with 23 CFR 637. Furthermore, this manual is part of MDOT’s Materials Quality Assurance Program. Inquiries concerning the information presented in this manual may be directed to: MDOT Density Technology Unit P.O. Box 30049 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 636-4970 Copies of the Density Testing and Inspection Manual can be obtained from: MDOT Engineering Prints Office 7575 Crowner Drive Dimondale, MI 48821 (517) 636-0650 MDOT Density Testing and Inspection Manual 2003 Ed., Rev. Dec. 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DENSITY TESTS AND METHODS A. INTRODUCTION 1. Soils ............................................................................................................................... 1 2. Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Mixtures .................................................................................. 1 3. Stabilized Mixtures ........................................................................................................ 1 4. Pulverized Pavement Mixtures ..................................................................................... 2 5. Density .......................................................................................................................... 2 6. Compaction ................................................................................................................... 2 7. The Density Test ........................................................................................................... 2 8. Controlled Density Method ........................................................................................... 3 9. The Twelve-Inch Layer Method .................................................................................... 3 10. Equipment ..................................................................................................................... 4 11. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ....................................................................... 10 B. DENSITY TESTS 1. THE ONE-POINT T-99 TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 11 b. Preparing and Compacting the Sample ............................................................... 11 c. Weighing the Sample ............................................................................................ 14 d. Moisture Determination ......................................................................................... 15 e. Determining Maximum Density and Optimum Moisture ...................................... 15 f. Precautions in Performing the One-Point T-99 Test ............................................ 17 2. THE AASHTO T-99 TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 19 b. Preparing and Compacting the Sample ............................................................... 19 c. Weighing the Sample ............................................................................................ 20 d. Completing the Test Procedure ............................................................................ 20 e. Completing the Full Test Curve ............................................................................ 20 f. Determining Maximum Density and Optimum Moisture ...................................... 21 g. Precautions in Performing the AASHTO T-99 Test ............................................. 21 3. THE ONE-POINT MICHIGAN CONE TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 22 b. Preparing, Compacting and Weighing the Sample (Sand or Gravel) .................. 22 c. Determining Moisture Content (Sand or Gravel) .................................................. 27 d. Determining Maximum Density and Optimum Moisture ...................................... 27 e. Precautions in Performing the One-Point Michigan Cone Test ........................... 29 4. THE MICHIGAN CONE TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 30 b. Preparing, Compacting and Weighing the Sample (Sand or Gravel) .................. 30 c. Determining Moisture Content (Sand or Gravel) .................................................. 31 d. Determining Maximum Density of Granular Soil other than Processed ii MDOT Density Testing and Inspection Manual 2003 Ed., Rev. Dec. 2020 Aggregates ............................................................................................................ 31 e. Determining Maximum Density of Aggregate Base Courses and Surface Aggregates ............................................................................................................ 31 f. Precautions in Performing the Michigan Cone Test ............................................. 32 5. THE MICHIGAN MODIFIED T-180 TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 32 b. Obtaining and Compacting the Sample................................................................ 33 c. Weighing the Sample ............................................................................................ 35 d. Determining Wet Maximum Density ..................................................................... 36 e. Precautions in Performing the Michigan Modified T-180 Test ............................. 38 6. THE DENSITY IN-PLACE (NUCLEAR) TEST a. Description ............................................................................................................ 38 b. Location and Frequency of Test ........................................................................... 39 c. Troxler Model 3440 ............................................................................................... 39 1) Keys Description ............................................................................................. 41 2) 3440 Keypad Layout ....................................................................................... 41 3) Turning the Gauge On .................................................................................... 42 4) Recharging the Batteries ................................................................................ 43 5) Taking the Standard Counts ........................................................................... 43 6) Viewing the Last Four Standard Counts......................................................... 45 7) Setting Measurement Units ............................................................................ 45 8) Count Time Selection ..................................................................................... 46 9) Mode Selection ..............................................................................................